Jun
20

Ukraine’s leader orders 1-week govt cease-fire

KDWN

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s president ordered his forces to cease fire Friday and halt military operations for a week against pro-Russian separatists in the country’s east – the first step in a peace plan he hopes will end the fighting that has killed hundreds.

The Kremlin dismissed the plan, saying it sounded like an ultimatum and lacked any firm offer to open talks with insurgents.

Petro Poroshenko, making his first trip to the east as Ukraine’s president, said that the cease-fire will run until the morning of June 27 and that his troops reserve the right to fire back if separatists attack them or civilians.

“The Ukrainian army is ceasing fire,” he said in a statement. “But this does not mean that we will not resist. In case of aggression toward our troops, we will do everything to defend the territory of our state.”

Separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions have declared independence from his government in Kiev, occupied public buildings and fought with heavy weapons against Ukrainian troops.

Rebel leaders have already dismissed Poroshenko’s plan, and it remains to be seen whether they will comply and how much pressure Russia will put on them to cease fire.

The Kremlin denies supporting the insurrection and has said that Russians fighting in Ukraine are doing so as private citizens.

Russia said in a statement that an initial analysis of Poroshenko’s plan shows that “it’s not an invitation for peace and talks, but an ultimatum” to insurgents in southeast Ukraine to lay down their weapons. It said the plan “lacks the main element – an offer to start talks.”

The Kremlin said Poroshenko’s government issued the peace plan “deliberately or accidentally” at roughly the same moment that Ukrainian forces fired into Russian territory, wounding a Russian customs officer. It said the Russian side was waiting for Ukrainian “explanations and excuses” over the attack.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that its forces were trying to flush out insurgents near the border checkpoint, but denied targeting it.

Leonid Slutsky, a senior lawmaker in the lower house of Russian parliament, said Russian President Vladimir Putin could be waiting to see concrete action by the Ukrainian forces to stop fighting.

“That will be a proof that Poroshenko is indeed the president. That could be considered the first step toward peace,” Slutsky said, according to an ITAR-Tass report.

Putin has criticized Ukraine’s military operation against the rebels but he has resisted both the rebels’ pleas to join Russia and appeals from Russian nationalists to send troops into Ukraine.

The White House and European leaders urged support for the plan.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the U.S. government “has been very clear in our support for President Poroshenko’s effort to bring peace and unity to Ukraine.” He said the White House wants Russia “to stop supporting the militants who are fomenting so much violence and instability.”

Tension between Russia and Ukraine escalated sharply in February when protests in favor of closer ties with the European Union drove President Viktor Yanukovych from power. Russia denounced the events as a coup and annexed Ukraine’s mostly Russian-speaking Crimea region. The rebellion in the eastern regions broke out shortly afterward, with Ukraine accusing Russia of supporting it.

Poroshenko’s cease-fire is intended to give separatists time to lay down their arms and to allow fighters from Russia to safely leave the country.

The proposed next steps include joint security patrols to prevent looting and other crime, new local and parliamentary elections, and measures to protect the language rights of Russian speakers in the east.

In the longer term, Poroshenko has suggested decentralizing power to give the country’s regions more political authority.

At a border crossing near Izvaryne in the separatist Luhansk region, 100 or more cars waited in line for hours to cross from Ukraine into Russia as people fled the unrest. Some cars were piled high with possessions.

One car had a sign on the windshield that said “children.” A man named Sergei, who would not give his last name for fear of retaliation, said, “People are simply leaving everything and trying to escape the war.”

The United Nations says at least 356 people have been killed since May 7 and 34,000 have fled their homes. The U.N. report doesn’t include casualties from previous weeks of fighting, so the actual toll could be significantly higher.

Jun
20

Ukraine’s leader orders 1-week govt cease-fire

KDWN

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ordered his forces to cease fire Friday and halt military operations for a week against pro-Russia separatists in the country’s east – the first step in a peace plan he hopes will end the conflict that has cost hundreds of lives.

The Kremlin immediately dismissed the peace plan, saying that it looks like an ultimatum and lacks an offer to start talks with the insurgents.

Poroshenko, speaking during his first trip as president to the troubled east, said troops would still fire back if separatists attacked them or civilian residents. He stressed the cease-fire was temporary and would end at 10 a.m. on June 27.

“The Ukrainian army is ceasing fire,” he said in a statement carried on his official website. “But this does not mean that we will not resist. In case of aggression toward our troops, we will do everything to defend the territory of our state.”

Separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions have declared independence from his government in Kiev, occupied public buildings and fought with heavy weapons against troops from the government in Kiev. Rebel leaders have previously dismissed Poroshenko’s plan and it remains to be seen to what extent they would comply – or how much pressure Russia would put on them to cease fire as well.

Russia denies supporting the insurrection and has said that Russians fighting in Ukraine are doing so as private citizens.

The Kremlin said in a statement Friday that an initial analysis of Poroshenko’s plan shows that “it’s not an invitation for peace and talks, but an ultimatum” to the insurgents in southeastern Ukraine to lay down their weapons. It said the plan “lacks the main element – an offer to start talks.”

The Kremlin also said Poroshenko’s peace plan was released “deliberately or accidentally” as Ukrainian forces fired on the Russian territory near the border, wounding a Russian customs officer. It said the Russian side was waiting for Ukrainian “explanations and excuses” over the incident.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has voiced concern about the Ukrainian military operation against the rebels but he has resisted both the rebels’ pleas to join Russia and repeated calls from Russian nationalists for Putin to send troops into Ukraine.

The White House and European leaders urged support for the plan.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said “the United States has been very clear in our support for President Poroshenko’s effort to bring peace and unity to Ukraine.” He added the White House called on Russia to support peace and “to stop supporting the militants who are fomenting so much violence and instability.”

Tension between Russia and Ukraine escalated sharply in February when street protests in favor of closer ties with the European Union drove President Viktor Yanukovych from office. Russia denounced the events as an illegal coup involving radical nationalists and annexed the mostly Russian-speaking Crimea region. The rebellion in the eastern regions broke out shortly afterward, with Ukraine accusing Russia of supporting it.

Poroshenko’s cease-fire order specified that Ukrainian forces would halt offensive operations at 10 p.m. (2000 GMT, 3 p.m. EDT). The move is intended to give separatists time to lay down their arms and fighters from Russia safe passage to leave the country. The next steps include joint security patrols to prevent crime and looting, new local and parliamentary elections, and steps to protect language rights of the many Russian speakers.

In the longer term, Poroshenko has suggested decentralizing some political authority to the regions and taking steps to secure the language rights of people who speak Russian.

Poroshenko made announcement while speaking with residents in the town of Sviatohirsk in the Donetsk region. It was his first visit as president to the troubled east since being inaugurated June 7. Refugees from the rebel-held town of Slovyansk where some of the worst fighting has taken place were also at the meeting.

Earlier in the day, at the border crossing near Izvaryne in the separatist Luhansk region, an AP reporter saw a line of 100 or more cars waiting for hours to cross from Ukraine into Russia as people fled the unrest. Some of the cars were piled high with possessions. The United Nations said earlier this week that 34,000 people had been displaced by the fighting.

One car had a sign saying “children” on the windshield. A man named Sergei, who would not give his last name for fear of retaliation, said “people are simply leaving everything and trying to escape the war.”

The UN says at least 356 people have been killed since May 7 and 34,000 have fled their homes.

Before the cease-fire announcement, Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, said the Russian president is committed to dialogue on Ukraine and is planning to have a phone conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama in the coming days.

Ushakov also said Putin, on a visit to Austria next week, would be meeting with the chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to discuss Poroshenko’s peace plan.

Jun
20

Ukraine’s leader orders 1-week govt cease-fire

KDWN

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko ordered his forces to cease fire Friday and halt military operations for a week against pro-Russia separatists in the country’s east – the first step in a peace plan he hopes will end the conflict that has cost more than 350 lives.

The Kremlin immediately dismissed the peace plan, saying that it looks like an ultimatum and lacks an offer to start talks with the insurgents.

Poroshenko, speaking during his first trip as president to the troubled east, said troops would still fire back if separatists attacked them or civilian residents.

Separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions have declared independence from his government in Kiev, occupied public buildings and fought with heavy weapons against troops from the government in Kiev. Rebel leaders have previously dismissed Poroshenko’s plan and it remains to be seen to what extent they would comply – or how much pressure Russia would put on them to cease fire as well.

Russia denies supporting the insurrection and has said that Russians fighting in Ukraine are doing so as private citizens.

The Kremlin said a statement Friday carried by Russian news agencies that Poroshenko’s peace plan was released “deliberately or accidentally” as Ukrainian forces fired on the Russian territory near the border, wounding a Russian customs officer.

It said the Russian side was waiting for Ukrainian “explanations and excuses” over the incident.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has voiced concern about the Ukrainian military operation against the rebels but he has resisted both the rebels’ pleas to join Russia and repeated calls from Russian nationalists for Putin to send troops into Ukraine.

Poroshenko’s ceasefire order specified that Ukrainian forces would halt offensive operations at 10 p.m. (2000 GMT, 3 p.m. EDT). The move is intended to give separatists time to lay down their arms and fighters from Russia safe passage to leave the country.

He stressed the ceasefire was temporary and would end at 10 a.m. on June 27.

“The Ukrainian army is ceasing fire,” he said in a statement carried on his official website. “But this does not mean that we will not resist in case of aggression toward our troops, we will do everything to defend the territory of our state.”

The next steps include joint security patrols to prevent crime and looting, new local and parliamentary elections, and steps to protect language rights of the many Russian speakers in the area.

In the longer term, Poroshenko has suggested decentralizing some political authority to the regions and taking steps to secure the language rights of people who speak Russian as their main language. The White House and European leaders have urged support for the plan.

Poroshenko made announcement while speaking with residents in the town of Sviatohirsk in the Donetsk region. It was his first visit as president to the troubled east since being inaugurated June 7. Refugees from the rebel-held town of Slovyansk where some of the worst fighting has taken place were also at the meeting.

Earlier in the day, at the border crossing near Izvaryne in the separatist Luhansk region, an AP reporter saw a line of 100 or more cars waiting for hours to cross from Ukraine into Russia as people fled the unrest. Some of the cars were piled high with possessions. The United Nations said earlier this week that 34,000 people had been displaced by the fighting.

One car had a sign saying “children” on the windshield. A man named Sergei, who would not give his last name for fear of retaliation, said “people are simply leaving everything and trying to escape the war.”

Seven Ukrainian troops were killed and 30 troops wounded in overnight fighting in the restive east as clashes between government forces and pro-Russia rebels flared ahead of the cease-fire. Separatists were operating tanks in the region, a particular sore point for Ukraine, which accuses Russia of letting the vehicles and other heavy weaponry cross the border.

Vladislav Seleznev, spokesman for Ukrainian forces in the east, said the fighting took place near the village of Yampil in the Donetsk region.

An Associated Press reporter saw pro-Russia fighters moving in a column with two tanks and three armored personnel carriers near the town of Yanakiyeve in the direction of Horlivka in the separatist Donetsk region. The tanks flew small flags of a pro-Russia militia but otherwise had no markings. The fighters declined to say what they were doing.

Before the cease-fire announcement, Putin’s foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, said the Russian president is committed to dialogue on Ukraine and is planning to have a phone conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama in the coming days.

Ushakov also said Putin, on a visit to Austria next week, would be meeting with the chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to discuss Poroshenko’s peace plan.